Panchagarh boat capsize: Death toll reaches 68

Death toll reached to 68 as 18 more bodies were recovered from the river in the boat capsize in the Karatoya River near Auliya Ghat under Boda upazila in Panchagarh district.

Confirming the news, Panchagarh Additional District Magistrate Dipankar Roy said that 68 bodies have been recovered so far. The rescue operation will continue until the last missing person is rescued.

Earlier, 24 bodies have been recovered on Saturday, 26 on Sunday after a boat carrying over a hundred passengers beyond its capacity capsized in the river in northern Panchagarh district.

Passengers were going to Badeshwari temple on the occasion of the celebration of Mahalaya, the auspicious occasion heralding the advent of goddess Durga.

Deputy Commissioner (DC) Zahurul Islam said a five-member probe committee has been formed to look into the incident and the committee has been asked to submit its report by three working days.

The bodies of those identified have been handed over to their relatives, the DC added. At least 70-80 people were rescued alive following the incident, he said.

Railways Minister Nurul Islam Sujan, State Minister for Religious Affairs Faridul Haque Khan, Thakurgaon-1 constituency lawmaker Ramesh Chandra Sen and Dinajpur-1 lawmaker Manoranjan Shil Gopal visited the scene.